Political News 23/9 Malta to mark 40 years of friendship with VN   The Maltese consulate in HCM City will celebrate its 50th National Day and also 40 years of diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on September 21. In January 1974 Malta became one of the first European countries to establish diplomatic ties with Viet Nam. Marie Louise Colei Preca, the Maltese president, said at the 40th anniversary ceremony in Valetta last month that her country wants to enhance friendship with the Vietnamese people. The anniversaries will be celebrated with a "Malta Week in Viet Nam" from September 21 to 26. Also as part of the week business executives from the two countries will meet to discuss trade. Civil Code gets NA's top attention The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee focused on the draft Civil Code, one of the most important laws in Viet Nam's legal framework, during its 31st session yesterday. Since it came into force eight years ago, the Code positively impacted the country's socio-economic development and the protection of the legal system, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said. The revision set out to recognise the rights of individuals and organisations in the civil realm, contributing to completing the socialist-oriented market economy regulations and stabilising the legal framework for the country's socio-economic development. The current draft comprises 672 articles, shorter than the 2009 Civil Code, which contains 777 articles. Some were carried over directly, while others were adjusted or created. The NA would discuss feedback on the bill from Government agencies, legal experts, organisations and members, Phuc said. Addressing the opening event, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung urged members of the committee to consider the contents of the document carefully so that it could be discussed in detail during the upcoming eighth NA meeting. He emphasised the need to update the Civil Code in accordance with the new Constitution, focusing on increasing citizens' rights. The revised law must be of the same high standard as the current Civil Code and include practical and realistic implementation measures, he stated. Members of the committee also agreed to consult the public in the process of creating the final draft. Benin wants to enhance ties with Vietnam Benin wishes to improve its relations with Vietnam, Beninese President Thomas Boni Yayi said, proposing the establishment of a joint committee to bolster bilateral ties. President Thomas Boni Yayi welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Truong Giang, who came to present his credentials on September 18. The president took the occasion to reaffirm Benin’s recognition of Vietnam as a market economy. The leader stressed the need for both sides to exchange information on each other’s markets and economic potentials Benin wants to increase its imports of Vietnamese products, such as rice and consumer goods, and learn from Vietnam’s experience in agriculture and construction, he added. Earlier, Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a diplomatic note confirming the country’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy, making it the second Western African nation to recognise this after Cote d’Ivoire in 2014. State leader embarks on fact-finding tour to Gia Lai President Truong Tan Sang paid a two-day working visit to the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, which ended yesterday, to assess the local socio-economic situation, the implementation of administrative reform, and a new construction project. Covering an area of 15,536 sq.km in the north of the Central Highlands, Gia Lai shares a ninety-kilometre border with Cambodia and is home to 34 ethnic groups. Provincial officials estimated the value of industrial production at over VND10 trillion (close to US$476.2 million) in the first nine months of 2014, a year-on-year increase of 11 per cent, with a total export turnover of $498 million. Farmland was allocated to 15,850 needy households for subsistence farming, reports showed. Sang said Gia Lai had made substantial economic progress, particularly in agriculture, indicating its major potential for industrialisation and modernisation. He also told the province to pay attention to villages with particular disadvantages, and closely monitor the implementation of socio-economic targets. The leader underlined the need to strictly preserve protective forests and ensure there was sufficient land for agricultural production. He called for the application of cutting-edge technologies in farming and animal husbandry to increase yields per unit. In a separate session, the President requested local judiciary agencies to intensify their law enforcement efforts in response to the complexity of crimes, with a view to safeguarding political security, social order and safety. On this occasion, the leader visited pastor Huynh Duy Linh, head of the representative board of the Protestant Church in Gia Lai, who said local authorities had created the best possible conditions for practicing the religion. Throughout the province, 56 church groups have been established, 19 new churches opened their doors to believers, and 75 pastors carry out missionary work, Linh added. Vietnam, Laos share economic development know-how Vietnam and Laos agreed to share their expertise on economic development via a number of exchanges at levels. Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Vuong Dinh Hue and Head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for Economic Development Bouasone Bouphavanh met in Vientiane on September 22. As think-tanks for their Politburos and Party Central Committee’s Secretariats, both sides discussed socio-economic development strategies for each stage in great depth. They also shared their views on regional and global issues of shared concern, and said they were satisfied with their cooperation in the past. The talks were part of Hue’s visit to Laos from September 22-25. Congratulations on Saudi Arabia’s National Day President Truong Tan Sang on September 22 conveyed a congratulatory message to Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on the 84th anniversary of National Day (September 23). Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also extended warm congratulations to his counterpart Saud Al-Faysal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on this occasion. The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung congratulated Miro Cerar on his election as Slovenia’s Prime Minister. Deputy PM Minh also cabled a congratulatory telegram to Karl Erjavec on his successful re-election as Foreign Minister of Slovenia. Source: VNS/VOV/VNA